You know that the human heart is a pump. When the heart pumps, it pushes blood through various tubes that lead to every part of your body — and back again.  When the blood is pumped out of the heart, it is forced out under pressure. (When you check your pulse with your fingers, you can feel this wave of blood. Your pulse tells you how hard your heart is beating and how hard your heart is working.) This pressure can easily be measured. You will investigate checking blood pressure in this activity.   

Blood pressure is important to good heart health — even for kids and teenagers. The good news is that getting it checked is very quick and painless. Your doctor or a school nurse can measure it using a blood pressure cuff.

 Blood pressure is highest during the first part of the heart beat when the heart contracts and pushes blood into the arteries. This is called systolic blood pressure. On the second half of the heartbeat, the heart relaxes and fills with blood. The pressure here is at its lowest and this is called diastolic blood pressure.

  Blood pressure is read as systolic/diastolic, for example 120/80. Normal blood pressure levels are between 100 – 139 for systolic blood pressure and 80 – 89 for diastolic blood pressure.

During each day, your blood pressure rises and falls. It's usually lowest when you're resting. During times of stress like doing exercise, being afraid or excited, or if you're suddenly cold, your blood pressure will rise temporarily. Any time your heart has to work harder to pump blood faster, blood pressure rises.

It's a good idea to keep track of your blood pressure, no matter how old you are.